A functional curriculum is a curriculum that its focal point is upon sovereign living skills and vocational skills, putting an emphasis on communication and social skills. At the secondary level, students who are prime candidates for such a curriculum are recognized. A process for assessing students for admission in the program is described as well as techniques for the teaching of social skills and placement of learners in community based works. The need for generalizing skills taught in this curriculum within community is necessary despite the fact that numerous parts of the curriculum can be taught in a classroom setting.

Function curriculum has an objective of maximizing independence, self-function, and enjoyment of children with mental retardation in every school, home, community and work environment. In order to meet this objective in an inclusive regular education classroom, teachers and all people working under this program should ensure that students are provided with all necessary material needed for class work. Students should also be taught how this classroom education will enable them to secure employment in the outside world. Furthermore, all mentally retarded students should be admitted in this program regardless of their family background or degree of their metal challenge.

In order for self-contained classrooms to become the placement option for instruction of functional skills, students are supposed to be hostile to one another, not willing to learn in groups or if students prefer working other than learning. Thus in order to do away withy hostility among them, develop interest of learning among them and make them realize that learning is of great significance particularly in future life, these students are supposed to be transferred to self-contained classrooms. This is due to the fact that they will not be in a position fight or be demoralized by one another. As a result, these students will endure and pursue this curriculum fast and pass with high grades thus securing good job opportunities in their respective communities and across the world.